The document discusses various editorial roles in publishing, including: - Editor-in-Chief who is responsible for the scientific quality of the journal and sets the editorial strategy and policy. Specific tasks include defining the journal scope, overseeing manuscript reviews, and managing ethics issues. - Managing Editor who works with the EIC on editorial policy and process, manages the editorial team, and ensures a smooth review process. They also handle marketing and promotion of the journal. - Other roles like reviewers, assistant editors, production editors, and marketers. The document also provides examples of training and education opportunities to pursue a career in publishing.

1. Delia Costache
Basel, 16 April 2014
Editorial Roles

2.  Editorial roles
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Reviewers
Publishing
House
Managing Editors
Assistant Editors
Editorial Assistants
Production Editors
Marketers
Authors
Editors‐in‐
Chief

3.  Editor‐in‐Chief (1)
• External to the publisher
• Mainly responsible for the scientific quality of
the journal.
• Together with the Managing Editor sets-up the
editorial strategy and editorial policy of the
journal.
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4. 4
Specific tasks:
 defines the Aims and Scope of the journal
 makes decisions on manuscripts, oversees per-review
 invites scientists to join the Editorial Board
 selects topics for special issues and invites Guest Editors for
these
 acts as an “ambassador” of the journal at conferences
 deals with appeals (from authors, referees, readers)
 together with the Managing Editor manages publication ethics
problems before (or after) the publication
 etc.
 Editor‐in‐Chief (2)

5. 5
Strategic responsibilities:
 monitors performance indicators (Impact Factor, citation rates,
usage rates, subscriptions or readership) of the journals
 competition analysis at title level
 recruits editors
 establishes good relations with existing and potential clients
(e.g. scientific societies, companies or associations of
healthcare practitioners or others)
 maintains a broad overview of developments in journals
publishing, and within specific subject areas, suggesting
possible innovations for own titles.
 Managing Editor (1)

6. 6
Editorial responsibilities:
 together with the EiC decides the editorial policy of the
journal: topics covered, types of papers, special issues and
supplements, geographical spread of papers
 Together with the EiC decides the structure of the editorial
team, editorial board and their responsibilities
 revises the editorial processes and ensures a smooth review
process: monitors the processing times, the number of
published papers in each issue, checks the quality of the
review process, deals with publication ethics problems before
and after the publication, etc.
 manages the performance of the editorial team (e.g. Assistant
Editors) working on a particular journal
 Managing Editor (2)

7. 7
Marketing related responsibilities:
initiates and manages the communications projects related to
the journal
 works with the marketing colleagues to ensure the journal is
properly promoted both on the website, in newsletters, at
conferences or through other means
 represent the journals and the publisher at international
conferences
 Managing Editor (3)

8. 8
 Training on the job within a publishing company
 Internship within a publishing company
 Professional publishing training at a university:
– The Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies, Oxford
Brookes University, http://publishing.brookes.ac.uk
– UCL Centre for Publishing, University College London, UK:
– http://www.ucl.ac.uk/publishing
– MA in Publishing at City University London
– http://www.city.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/publishing-studies
– Stirling Centre for International Publishing and Communication,
University of Stirling, UK
– http://www.publishing.stir.ac.uk
 How to pursue a publishing career

9. Thank you!
Any questions?
(For questions relating to the program at The Oxford International
Centre for Publishing Studies, Oxford Brookes University, you can
contact Ms. Delia Costache, costache@mdpi.com)
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